Colt's POV

We walk for a few hours. I start staring at the sky, watching the cloud's pass. And a though comes to my head.

"Clouds... Clouds... Cloudchaser. Smug little-"

"Colt, which way are we headed again? These forests all look the same to me." Gambit interrupts my thoughts.

"Just one sec, I'll pull out the map." I set my saddlebag down and pull out a map. "This should tell us where the ruins are."

"What kinds of ruins are these?"

"I'm not entirely sure, something from these ancient supposedly advanced race of ponies who lived underground."

"Hmm, never heard of anything like it."

"You shouldn't have, the underground says it's one of Equestria's best kept secrets."

"Shouldn't they send search teams out to harvest some of it then?"

"What do you think we are?"

"Fair point... But it's still odd we're the only ones."

*Grrrrr...*

"What was that?" Gambit said in a nervous voice.

"We're in the Everfree Forest. It's probably a Timberwolf. Grab your weapon."

"I was supposed to have a weapon?"

"YOU ALWAYS BRING A WEAPON!"

The wolf pounces out of the shadows right over my head. I pull out a dagger and stare at the wolf.

"Colt, what are you gonna do?"

"Make some firewood."

I spread my wings and fly at the timberwolf and it charges straight towards me. As it comes a foot before me I throw the dagger then fly straight up, shattering the wolf into branches. I fly down back to grab my dagger and walk back to Gambit.

"Nice work." He compliments.

"I do my best. Now where were we?"

"Finding our path."

"Ahh yes." I kneel down and point out our location. "So we're here. And it's about one mile to the north from our location."

"Not too far."

"Not at all. Especially considering we've been walking for a few hours. Do you want to speed it up at all? We can cut our ETA into a quarter if we keep a good pace."

"Sure a mile isn't too far to run."

"Too bad you're not a Pegasus too, else we could both fly."

"Ehh, toughen up running isn't that bad."

"Alright, didn't mean anything by it. Rainbow Dash can hardly stand staying on the ground too long."

"Isn't she that mare who pulled off the Sonic Rainboom?"

"That's the one. I've been trying to pull that off for years. It's not gonna happen any time soon."

"Ha, at least you admit it. There's this one Pegasus who comes to the tavern every night. He's always wallowing about it. By the end of the night he's the most drunk pony in there."

"I didn't notice him last night... Then again, I wasn't exactly paying attention."

"We were playing cards the half the night and drinking the other. It's no surprise really."

"True, alright let's go."

I throw my saddlebag back on and start to run ahead. After a few minutes we arrive at our destination and see an entrance just small enough for a pony to fit into it.

"This must be it. I'm going in first to check for traps."

"Alright, I'll be right behind you."

I proceed slowly into the the small opening.

"Gah! Spider!" I yell out. "Damn creepers..."

"Arachnophobia?" Gambit inquires.

"Little bit... Never liked em."

"At least you admit it, still kinda funny." He snickers a bit.

"Yeah... Just don't tell anypony. They basically think I'm untouchable. And it's not always a bad thing. Anyways back into the hole."

I walk back into the entrance to find that I'm in a small room and look around for anything interesting. Gambit follows in behind me and walks around the room.

"Hey Colt, look at this. There's a tiny box or something or something."

"Hmm, nice find. Let me see here. It looks like a small mechanism is on it. Maybe a lock. Toss me one of the picks from my saddlebag."

"Alright one second..."

He digs through my bag and pulls out some small items before pulling a small pick out.

"Here ya go. How do use these things anyways?"

"I'll show you as soon as we get to a real lock, this one's... odd."

I take the pick and twist it around feeling for a lock. Several moments pass before I give up and look into the hole. In there I see a miniature city.

"Odd... This sounds a bit weird but I think there's a city in there. Maybe they're not extinct and gone. Maybe, maybe they're hiding out in here. But how?"

I step aside and motion gambit to look in the hole.

"This is incredible, I wonder if there's a way to get inside..." Gambit steps back and ponders the thought.

"Doesn't matter for now, we'll mess around with it later. See if we can ask a historian or something."

I look to the side and see a switch.

"Alright. Let's see if we can detach this from the wall. I think this is what we're looking for."

I stare at the switch quaintly for a moment and flip it. The box makes a clicking sound and a platform pulls forward out under the box, and the box drops down onto it.

"Aha! Okay... Now time to take this thing back to Ponyville to meet with our contact."

"Any idea who it is?"

"Can't say they wouldn't tell me any more then the mission details."

"That's not comforting..."

"I don't like it but right now I have no choice. I feel like my luck's running out."

"Why do you say that?"

"I may be losing somepony dear to me if this doesn't go right. And I've never had to deal with this much pressure during a heist."

"You're starting to sound dramatic, calm down."

"You're right... Let's head out."

I grab the box and place it on my back, wrapping a rope around it.

"Not sure if I want to damage this thing, so I'm not risking putting it in the saddlebag. Take my dagger for now, you're gonna have to fight. But I got your back if we get surrounded. I know some hoof-to-hoof combat if it comes to that." I explain to Gambit.

"Got it, I won't let you down. And I'll head to the Ponyville blacksmith while we're there and grab a weapon."

"Alright. Now let's go."

We walk out of the entrance and walk towards the forest exit.

"This place is so dark all the time. It's a wonder how you can even see the path, let alone that entrance." Gambit points out.

"I have good perception. I've spent a lot of time in dark corners." I respond.

"Fair enough... You are pretty much the perfect thief."

"Eh... I don't know about that. Sure I can charm the pants off of Celestia herself I'm sure. I can escape from a trap with the clap of a hoof. And I can pick any existing lock there is... Okay, maybe I'm close to perfect. But I've done this since I was young."

"Did you ever go to school? You're pretty smart."

"I did, but I never went to College or anything special."

"Well you're a bright stallion. Glad to be working with ya kid."

"Thanks. Let's hope this box is worth something."

We walk for several hours, encountering a Timberwolf before we reach our last checkpoint before the forest's exit.

"Nice daggerwork Gambit, you planted that thing right in that head branch." I praise.

"I guess it's the steady hand from dealing cards. Hmm, never thought that'd factor into that."

"Whatever it was nice j-"

An arrow flies right past my head.

"What the hell?!" I yell.

"Get down! And hand over the box!" A low voice shouts.

"Oho! A common bandit is it?"

"I'm no common bandit, I've killed royal guards."

"Quite the feat, You know, killing on an ambush, not just anypony can do that." I scoff sarcastically.

"Err... Give me the box!"

I hush my tone and whisper over to Gambit.

"When I say Clever, I want you to work your magic and throw the dagger at his leg."

He nods in compliance.

"Oi! What'd you say to that stallion right there?" The bandit interrogates.

"I said that you are the best bandit I've seen in awhile." I respond sarcastically.

"Are you mocking me?"

"No, I'm being sincere, nopony has had the guts to attack me besides the Guards in a long time."

"What? The guards attack you? Who the buck are you anyways?"

"Oh I'm just Colt-Fortune. You know, low-time Canterlot thief."

"You're the Colt-Fortune?"

"What gave that away? Was it me telling it to you? Oh boy you really are a clever one."

Immediately Gambit picks up on the word and throws the dagger, landing it in his leg. Right after I charge the stallion and tackle him to the ground while he's distracted by the pain.

"Now, if you don't want me to kill you. I suggest you leave now." I demand him.

I pull the dagger out and hold it to his throat.

"Alright! Alright! Just don't kill me!" He squeals in fear.

"Good. Oh and I'll be taking this." I pick up his bow. "Now hand over the arrows."

"Fine, here." He takes the quiver off my back and puts it around mine then quickly chokes my neck with it, making me drop my dagger.

"Ga-Gam... Kill... Kill him!" I just manage to say.

He takes action and grabs the dagger, cutting the line and stabbing the bandit in the head. I take a breath of air.

"Damn it... Didn't see that one coming. Doesn't matter, he's dead and we have a new weapon." I say, taking deep breaths. "Thanks for saving me..."

"No problem. Now, let's leave these forests. Hopefully the rest of the trip won't be too eventful." Gambit says.

"Agree'd, let's go then."

We walk for about another hour and reach the forest exit. Seeing it's already the next day by the time we leave.

"Wow, I can't believe it's already the next day. Let's go meet the contact." I say surprised.

Gambit nods in agreement to me. We walk past Fluttershy's cottage and I see her feeding her animals. I walk over to her and pull a few bits out of my bag and give them to her.

"This is for being our guide. Thank you." I say to Fluttershy.

"Oh, it's no trouble... I was worried when you didn't come out of the forest. You don't need to pay me." She says meekly back to me.

"Don't worry about it, use it to buy some more animal feed. Or dinner. Or anything really. Besides you deserve it."

"A-are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Alright... Thank you uhh... Mister."

"The name's Colt-Fortune."

"Thank you Mister Fortune. That's very kind of you."

"No problem. I'll let you get back to your work."

"Okay, good luck with whatever you're doing Mister Fortune."

I wave bye to her and walk away from the cottage.

"Well that was very nice of you Colt." Gambit says to me.

"It's just a small act, nothing more." I reply.

"Alright, I'm not saying it's bad. Just be careful with what you do. You may need that money later and now you won't have it."

"I get it, I get it. Don't worry it was only 10 bits, I can get it back easily by selling one of the gems I keep."

"Okay, let's just get back to your contact."

We walk into town passing the library, many houses, and a boutique before arriving at a small shack at the end of the lines of houses. I see a Blue mare standing next to two familiar faces.

"Kira, where is this contact stallion you were talking about?" Swift says.

"Here he comes right now." Kira says irritated.

"Oh no..." Cloud says as he spots me.

"Hello Colt. I assume you have the package?"

"Hello Princess, Cloud, Miss... Kira I'm guessing?"

"Yes, now answer the question."

"Alright, alright. Yes I do right here." I motion towards the box on my back. "It was a bit more trouble then I thought it'd be, but nothing I couldn't handle.

"I didn't ask. Just hand it over."

"First, I want to know why there's a small city in here? Is it some sort of model? Because if it is, it must be pretty valuable to be all the way out in the Everfree Forests."

"I'm afraid I can't tell me, and don't even start to think I'll fall for any of your tricks. I care not for the likes of you."

"Fine, be that way." I pull the box off and hand it to her. "Now I want your ponies to stay away from mine!" I subtly motion my head over to Swift.

"Don't worry, we will. Now Swift, Cloud. I believe we have somewhere to be."

They both nod at her and they're off. And Kira stops in her tracks.

"Oh and Colt, report to the Ponyville Inn to get your next job."

They walk off, But Swift stays behind and talks to me.

"Hey, what did you mean by your ponies?" She questions me.

"It's nothing, I'm just dealing with a bit of bad luck lately." I answer vaguely.

"You, Bad luck? That's surprising. Just stay out of my heist! I don't know why you were Kira's contact, but I don't like where this is going."

"Whatever you say Swift..."

"You called me Swift?"

"It's your name isn't it? I better get going, and you better be catching up with your group." I motion over to Cloud and Kira.

"Fine, be careful."

"Starting to admit that you care?"

She blushes a bit before regaining her composure.

"Uh... Just... Just be careful." She runs off to her group.

"The Underground better not be messing with me here..."

"Let's get some rest Colt. She said to go to the Inn to get our next assignment."

We walk over to the inn and talk to the keeper. We ask him for two rooms. And tell him we're here on behalf of the underground. He get's the message and leads us to our rooms.

"The note's under your bed. Good luck, everypony who's come here for that job hasn't come back." The Innkeeper tells me.

"Thanks. Alright Gambit, I'm gonna read this note and head off to bed. Might as well catch up on some sleep." I tell him.

"Alright, I'm beat. Good night." Gambit says.

I walk into the room and reach under bed, grabbing the note. I lay down in my bed and hold it up to read it aloud to myself.

"Colt, if you're reading this now you've finished the first part of the job, proving you can be trusted for now. Your next assignment lies back in Canterlot. We want you to get an audience with Celestia, and pose as a noble. While in the audience we want you to keep her and her right hands distracted while we send in somepony to take out an enemy of one of our clients. Do this and report back to me in the slums at the area that Swift used to sleep. Oh and we've noticed you picked up a friend. He better be able to be trusted, or Swift faces the consequences."

I place the note in my saddlebag and drift off to sleep.

*A/N*Hello once again audience! I am deeply sorry for not updating in awhile, I have been incredibly busy with school and what not. I promise I will update more often I've set the minimum to be about every week-end. For a new chapter. But I will be posting more regularly. I don't really have much witty things to say so uhh yeah... Peace off!